Samboja Lestari

Samboja Lestari is a Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) rescue and rehabilitation centre, tropical rainforest restoration project, sun bear sanctuary, and eco-lodge[1] located in the district of Samboja in Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan, Indonesia,[2] owned and operated by the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation.

[11] Smits drew on his background in microbiology and his doctoral dissertation on mycorrhiza,[12] making enormous quantities of compost for tree seedlings.

Along with organic waste, he mixed in sawdust, fruit remnants from the orangutan cages, manure from cattle and chickens scavenged from his other projects in Kalimantan and a microbiological agent made from sugar and cow urine.

[14] With a large population of orangutans at Samboja Lestari unable to be reintroduced into the wild due to physical disability, chronic illness, abnormal behaviours, or a lack of survival skills, the BOS Foundation has also developed facilities specifically to provide lifelong sanctuary care for these individuals.

[15] At the request of the Indonesian Government, Samboja Lestari became home to over 70 sun bears, confiscated from the illegal pet trade or rescued from deforested areas.

[1] As there is no standardised, proven method of reintroduction for sun bears, the BOS Foundation provides instead lifetime sanctuary care in semi-wild conditions.

[1] Amory Lovins, chief scientist at Colorado's Rocky Mountain Institute claimed Samboja Lestari was possibly "the finest example of ecological and economic restoration in the tropics".

[6] The costs of the Samboja Lestari project in 2020 were reported at approximately $1.05 million, including all activities from reforestation and fire prevention to orangutan rehabilitation and sanctuary.